Minority snubs might lead to Rooney Rule overhaul

Jan. 18, 2013
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Lovie Smith had an 81-63 record and a Super Bowl appearance to his credit as Chicago Bears coach, but he was fired after the team went 10-6 and missed the playoffs after the 2012 season. / Matt Kartozian, USA TODAY Sports

by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

Eight NFL head coaching jobs and seven general manager positions have been filled during the just-completed hiring cycle, and the Arizona Cardinals' decision to bring aboard Bruce Arians made it a clean sweep.

There were no minorities hired for the top jobs.

What next?

According to a league official, there could be an overhaul of the process that is supposed to help minority candidates get jobs, including revisiting the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minority candidates.

"While there has been full compliance with the interview requirements of the Rooney Rule and we wish the new head coaches and general managers much success, the hiring results this year have been unexpected and reflect a disappointing lack of diversity," said NFL executive vice president of human resources Roibert Gulliver in a statement.

"The Rooney Rule has been a valuable tool in expanding diversity and inclusion in hiring practices, but there is more work to do, especially around increasing and strengthening the pipeline of diverse candidates for head coach and senior football executive positions.

"We have already started the process of developing a plan for additional steps that will better ensure more diversity and inclusion on a regular basis in our hiring results. We look forward to discussing these steps with our advisers to ensure that our employment, development and equal opportunity programs are both robust and successful," Gulliver added.

John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, told USA TODAY Sports on Friday that his organization will push for the NFL to revise the Rooney Rule, which requires that teams interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching and general manager vacancies. He would not elaborate on specific details.

"We are extremely disappointed," Wooten said. "But we're not discouraged. We will be talking with the league in terms of pushing forward."

Each of the teams that recently had vacancies complied with the Rooney Rule, but respected candidates -- including Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith, Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton and New York Giants college scouting director Marc Ross -- were passed over.

Is the NFL moving backward? It's a question that has been revived on the 10th anniversary of the Rooney Rule's creation as a means to expose often-overlooked minority candidates.

One issue that surfaced during this cycle is the lack of minorities in offensive play-calling roles. That could become a focal point in an effort to increase opportunities.

Seven of the eight coaching vacancies were filled by coaches with offensive backgrounds. Of minority assistants, only Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell is currently serving as an offensive play-caller -- a role he assumed on an NFL level for the first time after replacing the fired Cam Cameron in midseason.

Cincinnati Bengals receivers coach Hue Jackson, being considered for the Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator role, also has an extensive background as a play-caller and was previously the Oakland Raiders coach. He, too, was passed over for the head coaching opportunities.

New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese says "sometimes it's just the luck of the draw."

"It seems a little bit unusual with so many openings (front office, HC, OC, DC) this cycle, but qualified minority candidates were interviewed and it didn't happen this time," Reese said in an email to USA TODAY Sports. "I think the Rooney Rule definitely helps and brings awareness in the hiring process, but the rule is not meant to make clubs hire anyone. I'm hopeful that more minority candidates will be seriously interviewed and considered as we move forward in the years to come.

"Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw, coincidence, or however you want to frame it ... look at (former Giants executive) Dave Gettleman, who worked in the league for 25 years before he got his opportunity at a top position."